Israel was a creation of western ambitions in the Middle East (including European Jewry), combined with a collective sense of guilt and self-serving about what otherwise to do with European Jewry after the Second Great War. Instead of dumping the problem on Germany and the other ethnic/national chauvanist states of Europe, or giving them territory there, first Britain and then the rest of the western states join in the delusional dream of Zionism, to sweep it under the rug of Palestine. Exchange the Jewish Diaspora of Roman times, for the Nakbah that the creation of Israel has delivered upon the Palestinians. Of course it was a prescription for war: the terror and war of the Jewish/Western conquest of Palestine, and the resistance struggle of the New Diaspora; The Nakbah of the Palestinians. In this scenario delivered upon them, the Palestinians have no choice but to believe in war. We should not be surprised in the least. And likewise, the Jewish American/European too, the new citizenry of the New Israel, the brutalized victims of old pre-war Europe, now brutalizing the Palestinians, has no choice but to believe in war. Unfortunately, it would appear as Sharon also realizes, that if and when the U.S.A. is finally driven from Iraq, and shortly thereafter the entire Middle East, and they lose their appetite and will to support and militarily underwrite Israel, it too will be toast. There is as much an explanation of Sharon's desperation here, as that of Hamas and the Palestinians. A small prediction I would make. When the U.S. Empire finally collapses, as I think it is clear it will, sooner or later, it will take Israel down with it. It was an artificial creation in the first place. It is therefore also the explanation in our day, of their desperate and brutal alliance against the Arabs. They need each other, for their mutual survival.

This article offers incredible depth of insight and over-rides the simplified self-serving commentary justifying an unjust occupation by Israelis and their Western supporters in war. It is odd how the "abused" Jews turn so quickly to abusers themselves and exhibit such intolerance towards the people whose home they have taken as compensation for a crime committed by another. Throw in a touch of American imperialism, billions worth of oil, and arms trade - and you have yourself a sorry end for an even sorrier story of angst and hopelessness.

Shirin -- Glad to see that your ignorant, anti-semetic (of anti-Jewish for your purposes) message transcends more than one article. You broke that down nicely. It's nice to see that Islamists, who claim over and over that they are a religion of peace have chosen to indiscrimantely murder Jews who have every right to live in that land rather than share it with them. Throw in centuries of terrorism, the most corrupt government in the world, regular policies of murdering their own people, and a means of using this sick mindset to recruit the ignorant masses of the left, and you have the Palestinian plight. And rest assured, they appreciate your license to kill and it will continue with your support. You enjoy placing all these labels on the Jews, but at least they show loyalty to their own people, which is more than you can say for your poor oppressed mob of terrorists.

As Queen Noor of Jordan once said, "When there is justice, there will be peace". Everyone has their own definition of what justice in the Middle East would be; all I can say is that God or Allah will deal some day with the Middle Eastern and Western politicians that have financed and allowed blood to flow in the streets of Isreal and the Gaza Strip since 1948. The politicians are the true criminals in this sad story. All the innocent Middle Eastern civilians - men, women, children and babies - that have been killed by war, no matter what their religion was or where they lived, have at least passed on to leave this sorry world behind. If only politicians would take responsibility for their actions, and know that for every negative action, there is an even greater negative reaction. That is the lesson. No one has learned anything in the last 56 years!!

To Shirin, I do not understand how you (and all Israeli apologists) can say these words with a straight face and expect people will believe your crap just because you keep repeating it. I bet you are smiling as you say them. It so frustrating that the situation is CLEAR as day and yet people can believe the Israeli-rights propaganda. Facts are facts! and here are a few: 1- I am a Palestinian! I was born and raised till the age of 18 in Palestine. My family tree existed in Palestine for hundreds of years if not more... I leave my country for Canada to complete my education and that was reason enough for me to lose my right to live in MY and MY PEOPLE'S land. yet a Jewish immigrant from God knows where! Russia , Africa, Europe etc.. can claim citizenship merely because he/she is a Jew. Now, multiply that by 5 million others who were and are deprived from THEIR LAND and HOMES by Israel and those wandering Jews. Is this fair? is this right? is this a cause to rebel and fight back? You tell me!. I would bet my life on it, if you were on Palestinian you would feel the same way if not worse. Ehud Barak once said. " If I was born a Palestinian, I would have probably joined a terrorist organization.". search google for many refrences of the above statement here is a quick link fomr ucla.edu too: http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/issues/00/03.06/view.amer.html

The hard fact about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is that only one side can win. In our politically correct world that is a hard fact to swallow. Even before 1948 it was clear that neither side was likely to accept a two state solution and actively worked to prevent it. The Palestinians only hope for the “right of return” is to militarily defeat the state of Israel and then kill the remaining Israelis or commit their own ethnic cleansing on them. Even with their population advantage this is unlikely. The infidatia (spelling?) has been an outright disaster for the Palestinians. The Israelis will continue to build the security fence and focus their land acquisitions efforts on the West Bank which is far more useful for them than Gaza. The only hope for the Palestinians now is to renounce violence and focus on creating a new generation of people who are highly educated, improve the infrastructure of the areas they control and try to follow a Singapore type model. If they succeeded they would have money and influence and would be able to create trade agreements with Israel. Egypt could help by giving people in Gaza full citizenship as the Jordanians did in the West Bank. Also if Egypt gave up some more of the Sinai to the Palestinians it would help them create some sort of state. The Palestinians leaders have to step away from their culture of hate and death worship which is sucking the life and future out of their people.